Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Ahmed al-Ahmed, the Muslim fruit seller who was shot while disarming one of the attackers during Sunday’s Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre, in the hospital on Tuesday.
“Your courage is inspiring,” Albanese tells Ahmed in a video posted to his X/Twitter account. In the video, the prime minister is seen shaking Ahmed’s hand while the wounded man lies in a hospital bed.
“Ahmed, you are an Australian hero. You put yourself at risk to save others, running towards danger on Bondi Beach and disarming a terrorist,” Albanese wrote in the post. “In the worst of times, we see the best of Australians. And that's exactly what we saw on Sunday night. On behalf of every Australian, I say thank you.”
Video from Sunday showed Ahmed, 43, running up and grabbing one of the shooters. The attackers, Naveed Akram, 24, and Sajid Akram, 50, were a father and son of Pakistani descent.
After grabbing the shooter, Ahmed disarmed him. He was subsequently hospitalized with gunshot wounds to the arm and hand.
'Ahmed al-Ahmed represents the best of our country,' Albanese says
Following Albanese’s visit with Ahmed, the prime minister addressed the press.
“We are a brave country. Ahmed al-Ahmed represents the best of our country,” Albanese said. “We will not allow this country to be divided. That is what the terrorists seek. We will unite, we will embrace each other, and we will get through this.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns also visited Ahmed in the hospital.
“Ahmed is a real-life hero,” Minns wrote on X on Monday, along with a photo of his visit. “Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk.
Since being wounded, a crowdfunding campaign to support Ahmed has been established. The campaign, launched by Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman, raised $1.3 million on its first day.